Baker Institute

Why do family health insurance premiums vary by as much as $25k within the same industry? 💸 A new Baker Institute Health Economics Program report examines insurance cost disparities across Texas universities & explores how plan design & transparency may improve affordability. bit.ly/4upVBbK #HealthPolicy #Insurance #HigherEd

Civilian support can help legitimize military coups, but those alliances often don’t last. In a new piece for @POMEPS, our postdoctoral research associate @SalahBHPoliSci explores “post-coup buyer’s remorse,” a pattern in which civilian supporters are later sidelined or repressed once juntas consolidate power. Read his full analysis: bit.ly/43fBfWz

Last chance to register! This Thursday: “Redrawing Risk,” a one-day conference on FEMA’s updated flood maps and what they mean for Greater Houston. In collaboration with @RiceKinderInst, this event is free & open to the public. 📅 May 21 | 9 am–4 pm 📍 Baker Hall RSVP: bit.ly/4tt5mp2

How has U.S. health policy shifted in the second Trump administration’s first year? A new brief from the Center for Health Policy examines how federal budget cuts are expected to affect insurance access, coverage, & care costs. bit.ly/42InpMo #HealthPolicy #USHealthcare #PublicHealth

Why are military regimes in the Sahel becoming increasingly personalized? In a new piece for @ConversationUS, @SalahBHPoliSci & coauthor Hiba Naciri examine how Mali’s General Assimi Goïta has consolidated authority following the killing of General Sadio Camara, & how similar patterns are emerging in Burkina Faso &Niger. bit.ly/42HFLwY #Mali #Sahel #WestAfrica #MilitaryRule #Governance

How resilient is the global plastics system to geopolitical shocks? @CES_Baker_Inst’s Rachel A. Meidl analyzes how Middle East conflict is exposing fragility in petrochemical supply chains & how circular carbon pathways may improve resilience through diversification & flexibility. bit.ly/4dBoN8v #Plastics #SupplyChains #CircularEconomy #EnergySecurity #CarbonManagement

On April 20, the Trump administration invoked five Defense Production Act orders to expand energy infrastructure & supply. Gabe Arrington’s new brief examines how the orders frame energy as a national security priority & the uncertainties surrounding their scope. bit.ly/4dpTygm #EnergySecurity #USPolicy #CriticalInfastructure

🌍 Protracted displacement in the MENA region is driven by political, security, & climate dynamics. This series spotlights innovative responses, offering lessons on governance, inclusion, & durable solutions. Read more: bit.ly/3PBDwZ3 #MENA #Refugees #DisplacementPolicy #HumanitarianAid

How is U.S. competition with China reshaping Mexico’s economy? Alfonso Ortiz Brenner & @PayanTony examine rising geoeconomic pressures in a new brief & outline policy considerations to strengthen resilience & strategic autonomy. 🌎 📈 bit.ly/4dlGTuW #Mexico #Geopolitics #TradePolicy

The U.S. faces rising instability across Venezuela, Iran, and the Middle East. How will its diplomacy adapt? On May 20, join Elliott Abrams and David M. Satterfield as they will examine how evolving relationships across these regions are shaping U.S. diplomacy, security and economic priorities. Registration is now open: bit.ly/42wNFsO #Event #Houston #Free

Mexico is closely watching evolving U.S. political dynamics, and the implications for the bilateral partnership are significant. Baker Institute experts convened in Mexico City for the second annual U.S. Policy Outlook, examining how potential U.S. policy shifts could impact USMCA renegotiations, energy, immigration, and the growing importance of the Texas-Mexico relationship. Learn more: bit.ly/429MOOz

Why do critical minerals projects stall? In a new working paper, @CES_Baker_Inst’s Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes examines how technical disclosure is not only a compliance task but also a financing pathway to support project development. bit.ly/4dcLDDg #CriticalMinerals #Finance #EnergySecurity

🎙️ How did Guyana become one of the fastest-growing energy producers in the world? In a special two-part series from @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali discusses Guyana’s rapid rise in global energy markets, the challenges of managing historic growth, & the strategy behind turning an oil boom into long-term national development. 🎧 Episodes 1 & 2: bit.ly/4toLlz0

The circular carbon economy reframes carbon as a managed system asset — not just waste. A new working paper by @CES_Baker_Inst's Rachel A. Meidl examines plastics & advanced recycling, arguing policy should shift from definitional purity to system-level performance across the carbon cycle. bit.ly/4tlvSzO #CarbonEconomy #CircularEconomy #ClimatePolicy #EnergyTransition

The “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report could shape child health policy nationwide. A new policy brief by Heidi Russell & Kaitlin May examines its data & methods, identifying gaps in transparency, evidence standards, & data sourcing — underscoring the role of federally funded data systems in informing future policy decisions.bit.ly/4nffwYb #HealthPolicy #PublicHealth #Data #ChildHealth

🌍 Refugee displacement is increasingly long-term, reshaping humanitarian needs, policy, and host communities. Join us May 14 for “Addressing Protracted Displacement in the Middle East and North Africa,” a panel on evolving responses in the MENA region and implications for Houston and beyond. RSVP: bit.ly/4m7b1yc #Houston #Refugees #HumanRights #GlobalAffairs

China faces a significant oil deficit following the Strait ofHormuz’s closure — an issue set to shape the U.S.-China summit talks in May 2026. Gabriel Collins’ new working paper examines Beijing’s options to ease supply pressures & the risks of escalation. bit.ly/4f6Ibwh #USChinaRelations #EnergySecurity #IranWar

Can regulatory sandboxes bridge the gap between AI innovation & safety? In a new report, @armandoguio shows how supervised experimentation can sharpen rule making while advancing interoperability, enabling shared learning, & strengthening U.S.-Mexico coordination toward a more integrated, evidence-based AI ecosystem. bit.ly/4d6RwSa #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #AIGovernance

🎙️ What happens when the rules meant to limit the human cost of war and protect humanitarian workers start to erode? In this episode of Baker Briefing, experts explore why the rules of war matter beyond the battlefield, and what is at stake when they break down. 🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/42i3P9o

🏙️ Flood risk in Greater Houston is changing. FEMA’s updated flood maps are reshaping how risk is defined, raising new questions for homeowners, development, and local finances. Join us on May 21 for “Redrawing Risk,” a one-day conference featuring experts who will unpack what these changes mean for the region. Co-hosted with @RiceKinderInst, this event is free & open to the public. bit.ly/4tt5mp2